FORT COLLINS, Colo.--To support communities and people impacted by the recent Colorado floods, Colorado State University will be selling special, limited edition "CSU Cares" T-shirts, with all proceeds going to support Colorado flood relief and recovery.

The shirts, in the school's signature Aggie orange or CSU green, will be on sale starting Friday afternoon, Sept. 27, for $10 each at the Colorado State University Bookstore locations (campus and downtown's RamZone) or by ordering at http://bookstore.colostate.edu/ and at the Sept. 28 football game and Ag Day events at Hughes Stadium.

The T-shirts were inspired by football helmet decals that CSU Head Coach Jim McElwain had created for his team before last week's game at Alabama. The same "Colorado raindrop" logo featured on the helmets is incorporated into the T-shirt design.

"The rain may have stopped but that doesn't mean the hardship has ended," McElwain said. "So many people have lost so much, and they need our help. CSUCares gives all of us an opportunity to help those in our community who have been affected by the flooding. This is one way we can meet the needs of the flood victims."

Proceeds from the shirt sales will go directly to flood relief and recovery funds managed by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and to CSUCares, which provides immediate disaster relief support to CSU students, faculty, staff, and retirees.

"We watch out for each other at Colorado State, and when someone is in need, we try to help," said CSU Vice President for Advancement Brett Anderson. "It's part of who we are and what we do as a land-grant university."

CSUCares, supported by donations from the CSU community, is a fund created during the 2012 wildfires to help meet the immediate needs of students, faculty, staff, and retirees who are impacted by natural disasters. (http://supporting.colostate.edu/csucares/) One hundred percent of the money donated to CSUCares goes directly to disaster victims. In the last week, 200 people have given nearly $20,000 to assist flood victims, and 24 families have already received assistance - with more applications for aid coming in every day.

"Through CSUCares, we're making a profound and immediate impact on the lives of our fellow Rams in need," Anderson said. "We have received so many applications for assistance - students and employees who have lost everything to the flood - and I hope those whose homes are warm and dry will pitch in so we can continue to help those who weren't so lucky."

One CSUCares recipient is Ben Lawhon, a Warner College of Natural Resources graduate student, who fled his home in Lyons with his wife, 7-year-old son, and mother-in-law. They don't know the extent of the damage to their home and won't be allowed back for several months.

"I can't even put into words what receiving help from CSUCares meant to me and my family," Lawhon said. "That this university community would be willing to help people they don't even know is such a tremendous gift, both financially and emotionally. We are so grateful."

Funds also will be split with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, which has created three charitable funds to address intermediate and long-term relief and recovery needs in Larimer County. Bohemian Foundation has committed up to $750,000 - $250,000 to each fund - to match individual donations to these funds. All CSU Cares T-shirt proceeds dedicated to the Community Foundation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Foundation. In addition, Bohemian Foundation will match any gifts made by individuals directly to Community Foundation. Online donations may be made at www.mycommunityfoundationnc.org/flood.

"It's encouraging to see everyone coming together to help with flood relief," added Ray Caraway, president of the Community Foundation. "We are honored to work with Colorado State University and the Bohemian Foundation to help those whose lives have been so disrupted by this disaster."